Janet Street-Porter has opened up about her experience of sexual assault on today's (June 8) Loose Women, as the panel discussed the abuse of power in relationships.

Sharing her experience from when she worked as a newspaper journalist in her early 20s, Janet explained: "I think it's important to say to people at home that women blame themselves for whatever happens to them, and also men too.

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"Even me, mouthy Janet Street-Porter... when I was starting my career in journalism way back, I had something happen to me that at the time I kind of set it in the back of my mind like a really bad dream."

Janet revealed that a fellow journalist and friend had invited her over to his flat for drinks before they were due to go out for a meal when the attempted attack took place.

"I thought nothing of it and I went to his flat," she said. "He buzzed me up, I went in and there was no-one else there, and he had locked the door behind me.

"This man literally threw himself on me and without any warning he really went for me and he could not understand that I would not have sex with him, and, you know, whatever I said it was not getting through."

Janet went on to say that she managed to escape the flat but didn't tell anyone about the attack, including her husband at the time, for "eight or nine years".

"I stood in the street outside and I was absolutely shaking, and then I was thinking, 'What did I do or say?' Well, I did nothing."

Rape Crisis England and Wales works towards the elimination of sexual violence. If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland's helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.

Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.